Factor structure of the BPRS in deaf people with schizophrenia: Correlates to language and thought

Abstract

Introduction. There has been a relative lack of research on deaf people with schizophrenia, and no data exist regarding symptom structure in this population. Thus, we determined the factor structure of the 24-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) in deaf (n=34) and hearing (n=31) people with schizophrenia and compared it to a standard four-factor solution.

Method. An obliquely rotated factor analysis produced a solution for the BPRS that resembled others in the literature. Symptom clusters were additionally compared to cognitive and social-cognitive abilities.

Results. Activity and disorganised symptoms were the most consistent correlates of visual- and thought and language-related skills for deaf and hearing subjects respectively. Affective symptoms and facial affect processing were positively correlated among deaf but not hearing subjects.

Conclusions. The data suggest that current symptom models of schizophrenia are valid in both hearing and deaf patients. However, relations between symptoms, cognition, and outcome from the general (hearing) literature cannot be generalised to deaf patients. Findings are broadly consistent with pathophysiologic models of schizophrenia suggesting a fundamental cortical processing algorithm operating across several domains of neural activity including vision, and thought and language. Support is provided for recent advances in social-cognitive interventions for people with schizophrenia.

Keywords:

• BPRS
• Deafness
• Factor structure
• Schizophrenia
• Social cognition
• Visuospatial processing

Acknowledgements

Portions of this study were presented at the international congress on Schizophrenia Research, San Diego, CA, March, 2009. HKH is grateful to Steve Silverstein.